Text on a path, or type on a path, is text that follows a specific shape. In page layout programs, such as Adobe InDesign, and graphics programs, such as Adobe Illustrator, a path is a line drawn with one of the program's drawing or shape tools. In InDesign, you can create type on a path with the program's Type on a Path Tool.

Start a new InDesign document by clicking the "File" menu, choosing "New," and then selecting "Document" from the flyout menu. This opens the New Document dialog box. Make the desired changes to set the page size and layout type and click "OK."

Draw the path you want the text to follow. You can draw an open path -- a path with a beginning and an end -- with the "Pencil Tool," the seventh tool in the panel. To draw a closed path, such as a circle, polygon, square or rectangle, use one of the Shape Tool options, the tenth tool in the panel. The default Shape Tool is the Rectangle Tool. To choose a different tool, click and hold the "Rectangle Tool" icon, and choose the desired tool from the flyout.

Click and hold the "Text Tool," the fifth tool in the Tools panel, and then choose the "Type on a Path Tool" from the flyout.

Hover the mouse cursor over the spot on the path where you want the text to start. When a plus sign (+) appears on the mouse cursor, click the mouse. InDesign places a text insertion point on the path.

Type the desired text. The type conforms to the path, following it as you type.

Tips

If you resize or reshape the path, the text will automatically adjust to the new size and shape of the path.

To make the text conform to the inside, such as inside a circle, or bottom of a path, select the path, click the "Type" menu, choose "Type on a Path," and then select "Options." This opens the Type on a Path Options dialog box. Click the "Flip" check box, and then click "OK."

About the Author

A writer for more than 20 years, William Harrel has authored 19 books, including two titles in the "For Dummies" series. He has also contributed articles to magazines such as "Computer Shopper," "PC World," "Home Office Computing," "Windows Magazine," "MacWorld," "Compute!" and many others.